Transportation and storage system for wind turbine blades

ABSTRACT

A transportation and storage system for a wind turbine rotor blade comprises a tip end frame assembly comprising a tip end receptacle and a tip end frame. The tip end receptacle comprises an upwardly open tip end-receiving space for receiving a portion of the tip end of the blade and having a supporting surface for supporting the blade, a lower surface allowing the tip end receptacle to rest upright on a substantially horizontal surface, such as the ground, and releasable retaining means for releasably retaining the tip end of the blade in the receiving space of the tip end receptacle. The tip end frame comprises an upwardly open receptacle-receiving space for receiving the receptacle and provided with positioning means for positioning the receptacle in the tip end frame. A base part defines a bottom surface allowing the tip end frame to rest upright on the ground.

This is a National Phase Application filed under 35 U.S.C. 371 as anational stage of PCT/EP20111062525, filed Jul. 21, 2011, an applicationclaiming the benefit from the European patent Application No. 1017262.4,filed Aug. 12, 2010.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a system for transportation, storageand handling of wind turbine blades.

BACKGROUND

Often, transporting wind turbine blades from the production facility tothe site of wind turbine or the wind turbine power plant requires manytransportation steps. Typically, the blades are transported by truck,train or ship and again by truck to the site of the wind power plant.Additionally, reloading between the different types of transportation isneeded. Finally, the blades are stored at the production facility and atthe site of the wind turbine power plant.

Different types of transportation and/or storage systems for windturbine blades are known from WO 2007/093854, US 2007/253829, WO2002/04321, WO 2006/061806, US 2007/177954, US 2004/0217037, WO2006/000230 and EP 1849719.

US 2009/0274529 discloses a transportation system for long bladescomprising a root support frame and an intermediate support frame. Theintermediate support frame consists of an upper frame and a lower frame.The lower frame has at its base an auxiliary element including a balljoint through which is coupled an openable and closable clamp adapted toreceive the intermediate portion of the blade in a receiving spacethereof. The clamp, which is coupled to the auxiliary element by meansof the ball joint, is provided with a ball joint part which does notallow it to rest upright on a horizontal surface. Thus, it is notpossible to support the intermediate portion of the blade only by meansof the clamp.

CN 101648539 discloses a transportation system for a wind turbine bladecomprising a root support frame and an intermediate support frame. Theintermediate support frame comprises support parts being adapted tosurround and support the intermediate portion of the blade. The supportparts are provided with positioning means and stacked on a base plate.Additionally, the support parts are held together by means oftransversely and laterally extending rails or bars. In the space definedby the base plate no positioning means seem to be provided forpositioning the support parts in the above space. The intermediatesupport frame supports the blade at a point within the inboard 50% ofthe length of the blade.

EP 2239459 discloses a transport system for wind turbine bladescomprising a root frame structure for supporting the root end and afixation device for fixating and supporting the blade between the rootend and the tip end of the blade. The fixation device comprises afixation means which can be received in the fixation device. Thefixation devices can be stacked on top of each other. Further, the rootframe structures may be placed in a main frame structure.Correspondingly, the fixation devices may be placed in a base framestructure. The fixation means does not have a lower surface allowing itto rest upright on a horizontal surface.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved oralternative system for transportation, storage and handling of windturbine blades.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system enabling thewind turbine blades to be handled, stored and transported according tothe need therefor.

The above and further objects of the invention are obtained by atransportation and storage system for a wind turbine rotor blade havinga longitudinal axis and comprising a root end, a root region, an airfoilregion with a tip, a pressure side and a suction side, wherein thesystem comprises a tip end frame assembly comprising a tip endreceptacle and a tip end frame.

The tip end receptacle comprises:

an upwardly open tip end-receiving space for receiving a portion of thetip end of the blade, i.e. a point of the outer 50% of the blade, andhaving a supporting surface for supporting the blade,

a lower base part defining a lower surface allowing the tip endreceptacle to rest upright on a substantially horizontal surface, suchas the ground, and

releasable retaining means for releasably retaining the tip end of theblade in the receiving space of the tip end receptacle.

The tip end frame comprises

an upwardly open receptacle-receiving space for receiving the tip endreceptacle end provided with positioning means for positioning the tipend receptacle in the tip end frame;

a first lateral frame part and a second lateral frame part beinglaterally spaced apart and being mutually rigidly connected by means oftransversely extending and interspaced transverse frame parts beingupwardly open so as not to interfere with a blade arranged in a tip endreceptacle received in the receptacle-receiving space of the tip endframe, and

a base part defining a bottom surface allowing the tip end frame to restupright on a substantially horizontal surface, such as the ground.

The term tip end is to be understood as a point of the outer 50% of thelength of the blade as seen from the root end. However, in most casesthe tip end receptacle is arranged at a point of the outer 30% of thelength of the blade.

Since the tip end frame assembly comprises a tip end receptacle and atip end frame, it is possible to store and transport a blade using onlythe tip end receptacle or by the tip end receptacle being received inthe tip end frame. Thus, the blade may be stored at the productionfacility and at the wind turbine power plant merely by means of the tipend receptacle, thereby facilitating the handling of the blade, as thetip end frame is more bulky and heavy than the tip end receptacle.Correspondingly, the blade may be transported on the platform of a truckmerely by using the tip end receptacle. On the other hand, the blade maybe transported by using both the tip end receptacle and the tip endframe when transported by train or ship.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the supporting surface ofthe tip end receptacle may be shaped so as to at least partly conform toa surface contour of the blade in order thereby to distribute the loadon the blade to a relatively large area.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the supportingsurface of the tip end receptacle may be shaped so as to support aportion of the leading edge or trailing edge and an adjacent portion ofthe suction side and/or an adjacent portion of the pressure side of theblade. As wind turbine blades generally have larger stiffness in theedge-wise direction, i.e. the direction between the leading and trailingedge than in the flap-wise direction, i.e. the direction perpendicularto the edgewise direction, it is advantageous that the blade rests atleast partly on the trailing or the leading edge. In other words, it isadvantageous that the supporting surface of the tip end receptacle isshaped so that the edge-wise direction of the blade forms an angle ofbetween 5-40° with vertical, alternatively of between 10-30° withvertical.

According to an additional embodiment of the invention, the supportingsurface of the tip end receptacle may be made of a material preventingscratching of the surface of the blade. The non-scratching supportingsurface can be formed of a wood material, a rubber material, a textilematerial or a polymer material, e.g. a foamed polymer, such as foamedpolyurethane.

It should further be noted that the supporting surface of the tip endreceptacle may be made of a flexible material being able to at leastpartially adapt to the surface of the blade.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the tip end receptacle mayhave a rectangular outline with a pair of opposite lateral faces and apair of opposite transversely extending transverse faces. Thereby, atleast lower portions of said lateral and transverse faces of the tip endreceptacle form positioning means adapted to interact with thepositioning means of the receptacle-receiving space of the tip end frameso as to position the receptacle in the tip end frame. In this respect,it should be noted that the receptacle-receiving space of the tip endframe advantageously may be defined by elements defining a shapecorresponding to the rectangular outline of the tip end receptacle.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the tip endreceptacle may comprise an upwardly open, box-shaped, rigid structure inwhich is accommodated a block of material, said block forming the tipend-supporting surface of the tip end-receiving space. It is preferredthat the supporting of the block extends above or beyond the upper edgesof the box-shaped structure to keep the surface of the blade received inthe receiving space away from said edges.

The block may be a block of non-scratching material, such as a block ofa rubber material, a wood material or a polymer material, e.g. a foamedpolymer material, such as foamed polyurethane.

The block may be removably received in the box-shaped structure. As aresult, it is possible to use the box-shaped structure for blocks havinga supporting surface of different shapes, said shapes being adapted todifferent blades.

According to an additional embodiment, the tip end frame may compriselower stacking means in the base part thereof and upper stacking meansat a top thereof, said lower stacking means being arranged so as to beconnected with an upper stacking means by means of locking means toallow stacking of a first tip end frame on top of a second tip endframe, said lower stacking means defining at least a portion of thebottom surface of the tip end frame. The ability of stacking the tip endframes, and thereby blades received therein, is especially useful whentransportation takes place by ship or train. However, stacking may bealso useful at the production facility in case of lack of space.

According to an embodiment, the lower and the upper stacking means maybe standard container corners being interspaced by a distancecorresponding to a standard used in transportation and/or handling ofcontainers. It is thus possible to connect the tip end frame to standardconnection devices on-board ships and trains used for transportation ofcontainers.

The stacking means, such as standard container corner, may preferably beadapted to be interlocked by means of twist locks or other types oflocks being used in container transportation.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the retaining means may bea strap device comprising one or more straps and extending above theblade between lateral portions of the tip end receptacle. By using oneor more straps the blade may be pressed firmly against the supportingsurface and reliably retained in the tip end receptacle.

According to an embodiment, the strap device may comprise at least onecontact member preferably having a surface of a non-scratching materialand being adapted to be in contact with the blade opposite theblade-supporting surface of the receiving space of the tip endreceptacle.

The strap device may also comprise a U-shaped member having two legs andbeing adapted to extend around the trailing or leading edge of theblade, each leg being provided with a contact member preferably providedwith a surface of a non-scratching material and adapted to be in contactwith the pressure side and the suction side of the blade opposite thesupporting surface of the receiving space of the tip end receptacle.

Further, the strap device may comprise a contact member having a surfacecontour substantially following the surface contour of the trailing orleading edge thereof.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the tip end frame maycomprise connecting means for releasably connecting the tip endreceptacle with the tip end frame.

The connecting means may comprise at least one strap connecting the tipend receptacle with the tip end frame.

In order to save weight, the lateral frame parts of the tip end framemay be formed as a latticework of bars.

Correspondingly, the transverse frame parts of tip end frame may beformed as a latticework of bars, said bars may form triangular spacestherebetween to provide transverse stiffening of the tip end frame.

According to yet an embodiment of the invention, the transverse frameparts of the tip end frame may be longitudinally interspaced so thatinwardly facing surfaces thereof provide longitudinal positioning meansfor the tip end receptacle and the transverse frames parts may beinterconnected by means of connections means, such as interspaced andpreferably parallel bars forming a support for the lower surface of thetip end receptacle and by means of interspaced bars with inwardly facingsurfaces providing lateral positioning means for the tip end receptacle.The connection means forming a support for the tip may also be a plateconnected between the transverse frame parts.

The above embodiment is particularly advantageous when the tip endreceptacle has a rectangular outline as mentioned above.

The tip end frame may comprise an attachable and removable top baradapted to extend between upper portions of the lateral frame parts toprovide additional lateral stiffness to the tip end frame.

According to an additional embodiment of the invention, the system mayfurther comprise a root frame assembly comprising a root end fixture anda root end frame.

The root end fixture is adapted to be temporarily received in the rootend frame and comprises:

longitudinal positioning means for longitudinally positioning the rootend fixture relative to the root end,

a releasable connecting means for releasably connecting the root endfixture to the root end of the blade, and

a lower surface allowing the root end fixture to rest on a substantiallyhorizontal surface, such as the ground.

The root end frame comprises

positioning means for positioning the root end fixture relative to theroot end frame, and

a lower base part defining a bottom surface allowing the root end frameto rest on a substantially horizontal surface, such as the ground.

The root end frame may further comprise attaching means for attachingand locking the root end fixture to the root end frame.

The longitudinal positioning means of the root end fixture may compriseat least one plate having at least two through-going openings adapted toreceive connecting members adapted to be connected with matingconnecting elements in the root end, such as bolts adapted to beconnected with threaded bushings in the root end.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the root end frame maycomprise an upwardly open root end fixture-receiving space for receivinga lower portion of the root end fixture, said receiving space beingdefined by mutually facing surfaces of lateral transversely interspacedframe parts and mutually facing surfaces of longitudinally interspacedframe parts, said mutually facing surfaces of the transverselyinterspaced and longitudinally interspaced frame parts, respectively,forming the positioning means of the root end frame cooperating withcorresponding outer surfaces of the root end fixture for positioning theroot end fixture relative to the root end frame. Thus, it is possible tolower the root end fixture into the root end fixture-receiving space andposition the root end fixture in the root end frame.

Further, according to an embodiment of the invention, the root end framemay comprise lower stacking means in the bottom surface thereof andupper stacking means at a top thereof, said lower stacking meansarranged so as to be connected with the upper stacking means to allowstacking of a first root frame on top of a second root frame, said lowerstacking means defining at least a portion of the bottom surface of theroot end frame, allowing the root end frame to rest on a substantiallyhorizontal surface, such as the ground. Allowing stacking of root endframes and thereby of blades received therein, is—as indicatedabove—advantageous when transportation takes place by ship or train orin case of limited storage space at the production facility.

Advantageously, the lower and upper stacking means of the root end framemay be standard container corners being interspaced by a distancecorresponding to a standard used in transportation and/or handling ofcontainers.

Further, the stacking means, such as standard container corners, of theroot end frame may advantageously be adapted to be interlocked by meansof locking means, such as twist locks or other types of locks used inconnection with containers.

The root end frame may be formed as a latticework of bars.Correspondingly, the root end fixture may be formed as a latticework ofbars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

The invention is explained in detail below with reference to thedrawing(s), in which

FIG. 1 is a view of a wind turbine blade,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tip end frame,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tip end receptacle,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tip end of a blade received in the tipend receptacle,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tip end received in the tip endreceptacle which in turn is received in the tip end frame,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a root end frame,

FIG. 7 is a view of a root end fixture connected to the root end of ablade,

FIG. 8 is a view of the root end fixture received in the root end frame,the root end fixture being connected to the root end of the blade,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a first wind turbine blade stacked ontop of a second wind turbine blade by using tip end frames with a tipend receptacle received therein and root end frames with root endfixtures received therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The wind turbine blade 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a longitudinal axis L andcomprises a root region 2 with a root end 3 being provided withconnection means (not shown) for connecting the blade 1 to a hub of awind turbine rotor. The blade 1 further comprises an airfoil region 4providing lift when subjected to wind impact and ending in a tip 5. Atransition region 6 is provided between the root region 2 and theairfoil region 4. The blade also comprises a pressure side 7 and asuction side 8 extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge 10.A chord 13 extends between the leading and the trailing edges of theblade. The chord 13 may be considered as defining the edge-wisedirection E of the blade at a given point thereof, whereas a directionperpendicular to the chord may be considered as defining the flap-wisedirection F at a given point of the blade.

The embodiment of the transportation and storage system according to theinvention comprises a tip end frame assembly, which will be describedbelow with reference to FIGS. 1-5, and a root end frame assembly, whichwill be described below with reference to FIGS. 6-8.

The tip end frame assembly comprises a tip end frame 11 shown in FIGS. 2and 5 and a tip end receptacle 12 shown in FIGS. 3-4.

The tip end receptacle 12 shown in the figures comprises an upwardlyopen, box-shaped, rigid structure 14 formed of sheet metal and having arectangular outline with a pair of opposite lateral faces 15, 16, thelateral face 16 being higher than the lateral face 15, and a pair ofopposite transversely extending transverse faces 17, 18. The box-shapedstructure 14 further comprises a planar bottom 19 having a lower surface20 allowing the box-shaped structure to rest upright on a substantiallyhorizontal surface, such as the ground, as shown in FIGS. 3-4. A block21 is received in the interior of the box-shaped structure and an uppersurface of the block 21 is shaped to form an upwardly open tip-receivingspace 22 defined by a tip end-supporting surface 23. The tipend-supporting surface 23 is shaped to at least partly follow thesurface contour of the tip end at the point thereof, where the tip endis intended to be support by the tip end-supporting surface 23.

More specifically, the tip end-supporting surface 23 is shaped tosupport the leading edge 9 of the blade 1 and adjacent portions of thesuction side 8 and pressure side 7 of the blade 1. The portion 24 of thesupporting surface 23 supporting the suction side 8 is larger than theportion 25 of the supporting surface 23 supporting the pressure side 7of the blade 1.

As it further appears from FIGS. 3-4, the supporting surface 23 isshaped to support the blade 1 so that the chord 13 or the edge-wisedirection E of the blade forms an acute angle with vertical. Preferably,the acute angle is of between 5-40°, alternatively of between 10-30°.

The block 21 or at least the supporting surface 23 thereof is formed ofa material preventing scratching of the surface of the blade, such as awood material, a rubber material, textile material or a polymermaterial, e.g. a foamed polymer, such as foamed polyurethane. In itsentirety the block 21 may be formed of a foamed polymer, such as foamedpolyurethane or a rubber material.

The tip end receptacle 12 further comprises retaining means forretaining the tip end of the blade in the receiving space 22. As shownin FIGS. 4-5, the retaining means may be formed of a strap device 26comprising a U-shaped member 27 having two legs of which only one 28 isvisible. The U-shaped member is also adapted to extend around thetrailing edge 10 of the blade 1. Each leg 28 is provided with a contactmember of which only one 29 is visible. Each contact member 29 isprovided with a surface of a non-scratching material and adapted to bein contact with the pressure side 7 and the suction side 8 of the blade1 opposite the supporting surface 24. The strap device 26 is furtherprovided with straps 30 extending between the contact member 29 and theadjacent outer lateral wall of the box-shaped, rigid structure 14. Bytightening the straps 30 the tip end of the blade is pressed against thesupporting surface 23 and thus reliably retained in the tip endreceptacle 12.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the tip end frame 11 of the tip end frameassembly comprises a first lateral frame part 31 and a second lateralframe part 32 being laterally interspaced. The frame parts 31, 32 aremutually rigidly connected by means of transversely extending andinterspaced transverse frame parts 33, 34. The tip end frame 11 furthercomprises a base part 35 defining a bottom surface 36 allowing the tipend frame 11 to rest upright on the ground.

Each of the lateral frame parts 31, 32 has an rectangular shape andcomprises upright interspaced and mutually parallel bars 37, 38; 37′,38′. At their lower and upper ends each of the upright bars are providedwith standard container corners 39,39′ and the upright bars 37, 38; 37′,38′ are via the upper container corners 39′ interconnected by means ofan upper bar 40, and via the lower container corners 39 interconnectedby means of a lower bar (90).

The base part 35 of the tip end frame comprises transverse lower bars41, 42 connected to the lateral frame parts 31, 32 via the lowerstandard container corners 39 thereof.

Each of the transverse frame parts 33, 34 comprises a first oblique bar43; 43′ extending from an upper portion of the upright bar 38′, 37′ to aportion of the lower bar 41; 41′ adjacent the lower standard containercorner 39 of the opposite lateral frame part 32. A second oblique bar44, 44′ extends from about the mid-point of the first oblique bar 43 toa portion of the lower end of the upright bar of the first lateral framepart 31. Finally, a third oblique bar 45, 45′ extends from a portion ofthe lower end of the first oblique bar to about a mid-point of theupright bar of a second lateral frame part 32. The first oblique bars43, 43′ are connected by means of a first upper connection bar 46 and afirst lower connection bar 47. Correspondingly, the third oblique bars45, 45′ are interconnected by means of a second upper connection bar 48and a second lower connection bar 49. The first upper connection bar 46and the second upper connection 48 bar are arranged at the same leveland are mutually parallel. Correspondingly, the first lower connectionbar 47 and the second lower connection bar 49 are arranged at the samelevel and are mutually parallel. The first upper connection bar 46 andthe second upper connection bar 48 are interspaced such that thedistance between the inner surfaces thereof essentially corresponds tothe distance between the pair lateral faces 15,16 of the box-shaped,rigid structure 14. The first oblique bars 43, 43′ are interspaced suchthat the inwardly facing surfaces thereof are mutually spaced apart at adistance essentially corresponding to the distance between thetransverse faces 17, 18 of the box-shaped, rigid structure 14. The upperfaces of the first and the second lower connection bars 47, 49 provide asupport for the lower surface of the tip end receptacle 12. Jointly withthe upper connection bars 46, 48 and portions of the first oblique bars43, 43′ and the third oblique bars 45, 45′, the lower connection bars47,49 define an upwardly open receptacle-receiving space 50 forreceiving the receptacle 12.

Additionally, inner faces of the first oblique bars and the thirdoblique bars and the upper connection bars form positioning meansadapted to cooperate with the outer faces 15, 16; 17,18 of thebox-shaped, rigid structure 14 of the tip end receptacle 12 to positionthe receptacle 12 when it is lowered into the receptacle-receiving space50 of the tip end frame.

Further, the tip end frame 11 comprises an attachable and removable topbar 51 adapted to extend between upper portions of the lateral frameparts 31, 32 to provide additional lateral stiffness to the tip endframe. The top bar 51 is attached after the receptacle has been receivedin the receptacle-receiving space 50.

It should further be mentioned that the tip end frame 11 comprisesconnection means for releasably connecting the tip end receptacle to thetip end frame.

As shown in FIG. 5, the connection means may be formed of one or morestraps 52 extending between the strap device 26 and the adjacent upperconnection bar 46; 48 of the tip end frame 11.

The root frame assembly comprises a root end fixture 53 and a root endframe 54, as shown in FIGS. 6-8. The root end fixture 53 is formed of anumber of metal bars and comprises a bottom part 55 defining a lowersurface 56 allowing the root end fixture to rest on the ground. Fourbars 57-60 extend upwardly from the bottom part 55 of the root endfixture. The upper ends of the bars 57-60 are arranged in a common planeforming a longitudinal positioning means for positioning the root endfixture relative to the root end 3 of the blade 1 in longitudinaldirection.

At their upper ends, each of the bars 57-60 is provided with an oblong,through-going hole 61. The hole 61 is arranged on a circle correspondingto the circle of connection elements in the root end of the blade usedfor connecting the blade to the hub of a wind turbine. In the presentexample, the through-going hole 61 is adapted to receive bolts 63adapted to be connected to threaded bushings in the root end. The bolts63 are here used to connect the root end fixture 53 with the root end 3of the blade 1. The outline of the bottom part 55 of the root endfixture 53 is essentially rectangular.

As it especially appears from FIG. 6, the root end frame 54 comprises alower base part 64 defining a bottom surface 65 allowing the root endframe to rest on the ground. The lower base part 64 is formed as alatticework of bars and comprises extendable support legs 66, 67 whichcan be extended to allow the root end frame to reliably stand upright.Forward corners of the lower base part 64 are formed of standardcontainer corners 68, 69. An upright bar 70, 71 extends from each of thestandard container corners 68, 69. At the upper end thereof, eachupright bar is provided with an upper standard container corner 72, 73interconnected by means of an upper transverse bar 74. For stiffeningthe root end frame upper oblique bars 75,76 extend between the uppertransverse bar 74 and the adjacent upright bar 70; 71 and lower obliquebars 77,78 extend between the lower base part 64 and the uprights bars70, 71.

The root end frame 54 further comprises bar structures 79, 80 extendingrearwardly from a lower portion of respective upright bars 70, 71. Eachbar structure 79,80 is formed of a rearwardly extending bar 81, 81′, aninwardly extending bar 82, 82′ and a downwardly extending bar 83,83′being connected to a transversely extending bar 84 of the lower basepart 64 of the root end frame 54. Jointly with inwardly facing surfacesof the lower oblique bars 77, 78 and an upper surface 85 of the lowerbase part 64 inwardly facing surfaces of the bars forming the barstructures 79, 80 define an upwardly open root end fixture-receivingspace 86 in which the lower portion of the root end fixture is adaptedto being received by being lowered thereinto.

The above inwardly facing surfaces defining the root endfixture-receiving space 86 define a shape essentially corresponding tothe outline of the lower portion of the root end fixture. The inwardlyfacing surfaces provide positioning means for the root end framecooperating with corresponding outer surfaces of the root end fixturefor positioning the root end fixture relative to the root end frame.

Finally, it should be noted that the root end frame 54 comprisesattaching means for attaching and locking the root end fixture to theroot end frame. In the present example, the attaching means is formed oftwo locking rods 87, 88 which can be brought into engagement withopenings in the root end frame above the bottom part 55 of the root endfixture 53 to retain the root end fixture 53 in the root endfixture-receiving space 86 of the root end frame 54.

FIG. 9 illustrates that root end frames and tip end frames with windturbine blades attached thereto can be stacked on top of each other byusing not clearly shown twist locks 89 to connect the upper standardcontainer corners of the lower root end frame and the lower tip endframe with the lower standard container corners of the upper root endframe and the upper tip end frame. Although two stacks of blades areshown, it is possible to stack more than two blades.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 wind turbine blade-   L longitudinal axis-   2 root region-   3 root end-   4 airfoil region-   5 tip-   6 transition region-   7 pressure side-   8 suction side-   9 leading edge-   10 trailing edge-   11 tip end frame-   12 tip end receptacle-   13 chord-   E edge-wise direction-   F flap-wise direction-   14 box-shaped rigid structure-   15-16 pair of lateral faces-   17-18 pair of transverse faces-   19 planar bottom-   20 lower surface-   21 block-   22 tip end-receiving space-   23 tip end-supporting surface-   24 large portion of the supporting surface-   25 small portion of the supporting surface-   26 strap device-   27 U-shaped member-   28 leg-   29 contact member-   30 straps-   31 first lateral frame part-   32 second lateral frame part-   33-34 transverse frame part-   35 base part-   36 bottom surface-   37,37′ upright bar-   38,38′ upright bar-   39,39′ standard container corner-   40 upper bar-   41-42 transverse lower bar-   43,43′ first oblique bar-   44,44′ second oblique bar-   45,45′ third oblique bar-   46 first upper connection bar-   47 first lower connection bar-   48 second upper connection bar-   49 second lower connection bar-   50 receptacle-receiving space-   51 top bar-   52 strap-   53 root end fixture-   54 root end frame-   55 bottom part-   56 lower surface-   57-60 upwardly extending bars-   61 through-going hole-   63 bolts-   64 lower base part-   65 bottom surface-   66-67 support-   68-69 lower standard container corners-   70-71 upright bars-   72-73 upper standard container corners-   74 upper transverse bar-   75-76 upper oblique bar-   77-78 lower oblique bar-   79,80 bar structure-   81,81′ rearwardly extending bar-   82,82′ inwardly extending bar-   83,83′ downwardly extending bar-   84 transversely extending bar-   85 upper surface-   86 root end fixture-receiving space-   87-88 locking rods-   89 twist lock-   90 lower bar

The invention claimed is:
 1. Transportation and storage system for a wind turbine rotor blade (1) having a longitudinal axis (L) and having a root end (3), a root region (2), an airfoil region (4) with a tip (5), a pressure side (7) and a suction side (8) extending between a leading edge (9) and a trailing edge (10), said system having a tip end frame assembly comprising a tip end receptacle (12) and a tip end frame (11), said tip end receptacle (12) having an upwardly open tip end-receiving space (22) for receiving a portion of the tip end of the blade, at a point of the outer 50% of the blade, and having a supporting surface (23) for supporting the blade, a lower surface (20) allowing the tip end receptacle to rest upright on a substantially horizontal surface and means (26) for releasably retaining the tip end of the blade in the receiving space (22) of the tip end receptacle (12), said tip end frame (11) having an upwardly open receptacle-receiving space (50) for receiving the tip end receptacle and provided with means for positioning the tip end receptacle (12) in the tip end frame, a first lateral frame part (31) and a second lateral frame part (32) being laterally spaced apart and being mutually rigidly connected by means of transversely extending and interspaced transverse frame parts (33;34) being upwardly open so as not to interfere with a blade arranged in a tip end receptacle (12) received in the receptacle-receiving space (50) of the tip end frame (11), and a base part (35) defining a bottom surface (36) allowing the tip end frame to rest upright on a substantially horizontal surface wherein the tip end receptacle (12) has a rectangular outline with a pair of opposite lateral faces (15,16) and a pair of opposite transversely extending transverse faces (17,18).
 2. Transportation and storage system for a wind turbine rotor blade (1) having a longitudinal axis (L) and having a root end (3), a root region (2), an airfoil region (4) with a tip (5), a pressure side (7) and a suction side (8) extending between a leading edge (9) and a trailing edge (10), said system having a tip end frame assembly comprising a tip end receptacle (12) and a tip end frame (11), said tip end receptacle (12) having an upwardly open tip end-receiving space (22) for receiving a portion of the tip end of the blade, at a point of the outer 50% of the blade, and having a supporting surface (23) for supporting the blade, a lower surface (20) allowing the tip end receptacle to rest upright on a substantially horizontal surface and means (26) for releasably retaining the tip end of the blade in the receiving space (22) of the tip end receptacle (12), said tip end frame (11) having an upwardly open receptacle-receiving space (50) for receiving the tip end receptacle and provided with means for positioning the tip end receptacle (12) in the tip end frame, a first lateral frame part (31) and a second lateral frame part (32) being laterally spaced apart and being mutually rigidly connected by means of transversely extending and interspaced transverse frame parts (33;34) being upwardly open so as not to interfere with a blade arranged in a tip end receptacle (12) received in the receptacle-receiving space (50) of the tip end frame (11), and a base part (35) defining a bottom surface (36) allowing the tip end frame to rest upright on a substantially horizontal surface wherein the tip end receptacle (12) comprises an upwardly open, box-shaped rigid structure (14) in which is accommodated a block (21) of material, said block forming the tip end supporting surface (23) of the tip end-receiving space (22).
 3. Transportation and storage system for a wind turbine rotor blade (1) having a longitudinal axis (L) and having a root end (3), a root region (2), an airfoil region (4) with a tip (5), a pressure side (7) and a suction side (8) extending between a leading edge (9) and a trailing edge (10), said system having a tip end frame assembly comprising a tip end receptacle (12) and a tip end frame (11), said tip end receptacle (12) having an upwardly open tip end-receiving space (22) for receiving a portion of the tip end of the blade, at a point of the outer 50% of the blade, and having a supporting surface (23) for supporting the blade, a lower surface (20) allowing the tip end receptacle to rest upright on a substantially horizontal surface and means (26) for releasably retaining the tip end of the blade in the receiving space (22) of the tip end receptacle (12), said tip end frame (11) having an upwardly open receptacle-receiving space (50) for receiving the tip end receptacle and provided with means for positioning the tip end receptacle (12) in the tip end frame, a first lateral frame part (31) and a second lateral frame part (32) being laterally spaced apart and being mutually rigidly connected by means of transversely extending and interspaced transverse frame parts (33;34) being upwardly open so as not to interfere with a blade arranged in a tip end receptacle (12) received in the receptacle-receiving space (50) of the tip end frame (11), and a base part (35) defining a bottom surface (36) allowing the tip end frame to rest upright on a substantially horizontal surface wherein the retaining means is a strap device (26) comprising one or more straps and extending above the blade between lateral portions of the tip end receptacle (12).
 4. System according to claim 3, wherein the strap device (26) comprises at least one contact member (29) preferably having a surface of a non-scratching material and being adapted to be in contact with the blade opposite the tip end-supporting surface (23) of the receiving space (22) of the tip end receptacle (12). 